release, Famitsu magazine scored the PS2 version of the game a 33 out of 40. The game received the maximum score from Cincinnati Enquirer, G4 TV, and Gaming Age. Jeremy Dunham of IGN, GameZone's Michael Knutson and 1UP.com staff praised the multitude of moves; Knutson, however, said that it was difficult performing special moves, and 1UP.com affirmed "The real improvement, though, is the addition of more life-destroying options, like the hyper-addictive Challenge mode." Dunham accuse the fighting engine of being "too advanced for the casual fighting fan", also criticizing its "sucker" control scheme. Conversely, GamePro thought it "can be enjoyed by novices and veterans alike", and Matt Keil of G4 said it "is surprisingly accessible" to all gamers. Dunham cited how the "two-player mode allows for near-infinite possibilities and all the extra options are just icing on the cake." In contrast Kasavin criticized the other modes for not being as engaging as the two-player mode. Dunham stated it has "incredibly attractive backgrounds, super slick animations, and the best character design on PlayStation 2." An Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) reviewer stated it has "cooler character designs on a PS2 fighter" whilst another said, "some of the coolest 2D game artwork ever." Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine deemed it as "the best-looking 2D graphics ever seen in a fighter." 1UP.com said, "the ultrasharp, hi-res character art and fluid animation keep XX at the cutting 2D edge." Dunham, Knutson, Keil, and GamePro commended its similarity with Japanese animated series. The reviewer for GamePro stated it "becomes an art form in its own right." Greg Kasavin of GameSpot, however, said "many of the moves in the game are animated so strangely that it can be difficult to see exactly what's going on." Kasavin commented that its "cohesive musical style ... further helps set this game apart." Dunham deemed it as having "One of the best soundtracks to come along for quite some time", and praised Sammy for keeping the original voice actors, as did Knutson, which felt it "gives it a 'cooler aura'." Keil and Knutson found the sound effects to be "excellent" and "really great" respectively. On the other hand, GamePro described the sound design as the game's "major flaw." EGM remarked "Depending on your tastes, GGX2s pervasive heavy-metal cheesiness might negatively influence your opinion of the game." Other features praised include its short loading time, the variety of game modes and characters, the